Activities of The All India Kashiraj Trust (July – December, 1968)

Activities of the All India Kashiraj Trust. [kasirajanyasasya karyavivaranam] / 172-197

1. Publication of the Vamana Purana Edition and Translation. The publication of the Critical Edition of the Vamana Purana was completed during the first quarter of this year (1968), as has already been mentioned with details in the last review in 'Purana' X, 2, pp. 192 ff. The two translation volumes-the English translation with the Sanskrit text and the Hindi translation with the Sanskrit text-were also published in October on the occasion of the 24th Session of the All India Oriental Conference held at Varanasi. Both the translation volumes contain, besides the Sanskrit text and the translation, the following matter also. 1. Introduction containing a general study on the Puranas and specially on the Vamana Purana, and also discussion on the problems of translation of the Puranas and a review of the translations and adaptations of the Puranas in various regions and languages of India and abroad. 2. Adhyaya-Concordance of the constituted text with the Venk. edition of the Vamana Purana. 3. Detailed Adhyaya-contents in English and Hindi. 4. Appendices as follows: 1. Subject-concordance of the Vamana Purana with the other Puranas and the two Epics. 2. Lists of the episodes, stotras and vrata-upavasas mentioned in the Vamana Purana. 3. Lists of the proper names of persons-men and sages, Gods, Demigods and Asuras-mentioned in the Vamana Purana.

kasiraja-nyasasya karyavivaranam (julai-disambara, 1968 ) puranakaryam vamanapuranasya samiksita samskaranasyanu vada samskaranayosca prakasanam vamanapuranasya samiksitasamskaranasya prakasanam yatha nirdistam vistarena purvasminnako puranapatrikayah (10 . 2, pr . 192 ityadisu ), 1968 varsasya prathamacarane eva purtimagat | dvavanuvadabhagavasi (samskrtapathasahita angala- bhasanuvadah, samskrtapathasahito hindibhasanuvadasca ) aktubaramase akhilabharatiya- pracyavidyasammelanasya varanasyam sampanne caturvimsatyadhivesanavasare prakasitau babhuvatuh | vamanapuranasyaitavanuvadabhagau samskrtapathanuvadabhyamatiriktamadholikhita- visayamapi adadhatah | 1 . bhumika yatra samanyatah puranasambandhi visesatasca vamanapuranavisayaka- madhyayanam prastuyate, tatha ca purananamanuvadasya samasya vicarita, vibhinnabharatiyabhasasu sthalesu ca anyatra ca purananam anuvadadinam vivaranam prastutam vartate | 2 . samiksitapathasya vamanapuranasya venkatesvara samskaranena saha adhyaya- samvadah | 3. vistrtadhyayavisayasucike angalahindibhasayoh | 4 . 23 parisistani yatha- 1 . vamanapuranasya visayaih saha puranantaranam mahabharata- ramayanayosca visayaih saha samvadah | 2 . vamanapurane nirdistanam upakhyana stotra vrata-upavasadinam suci | 3 . vyaktinamasucika - vamanapurane nirdistanam manusya - rsi- devata - devayoni asuraprabhrtinam |

174 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 4. Lists of the geographical names in the Vamana P. with their scientific Latin names and descriptive notes on the flora. 5. Verse-index. The three Volumes of the Vamana Purana, Viz. the Critical Edition Volume, the English translation volume and the Hindi translation Volume, are of the demy quarto size, and contain i-lxx+1-778 +1-114+1-97 pages, i-lii+1-543 +1-70 +1-97 pages and i-xl + 1-465+ 1-55+1-97 pages respectively. It is hoped that these volumes will prove useful for the study and research on this Purana. Release of the Vamana Purana Volumes The above-mentioned three Volumes of the Vamana Purana were ceremonially released in an impressive function held for the purpose at the Shivala centre of the All India Kashiraj Trust in Varanasi on the 13th October 1968. The function was presided by Dr. R. N. Dandekar, General Secretary of the All India Oriental Conference. Besides the president of the function and H. H. Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh Ji (Chairman of the All India Kashiraj Trust) Dr. A. N. Upadhye (General President of the A. I. O. C.), Maharajakumar Dr. Raghubir Singh Ji, Pt. Giridharilal Ji Mehta, Shri Raghunath Singh Ji (Trustees of the All India Kashiraj Trust), Dr. A. D. Pusalker (Curator of the B. O. R. I. Poona), Acharya Hazari Prasad Ji Dvivedi (Rector of the Banaras Hindu University), Prof. Raja Ram Shastri, (V. C., Kashi Vidyapith), Pt. Rajeshvar Shastri Dravida (Principal of the Sanga-Veda-Vidyalaya, Varanasi), Rai Krishna Das Ji (Director, Kalabhavana, B. H. U.) and other distinguished persons of the city, such as Shri Shyam Mohan Agrawala (Mayor of the Varanasi Corporation) and Shri Satyendra Kumar Gupta

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 175 4. vamanapurane samagatanam bhaugolikanamasucyah adhunikatama- vaijnanika laitina namasahitah, vanaspatinamastu anglabhasayam samksipta tippaniyutasca | 5 . slokarghasuci | | vamanapuranasyaite trayo bhagah, samiksita samskaranabhagah, angalabhasanuvadabhagah hindibhasanuvadabhagasca demi kvarta saina ityetadakarena mudritah santi, yesam kramena i-lxx +1-778+1-114+1-97 prsthah iii + 1-543 + 1 - 70 +1-97 prsthah ; tatha i-l +1- 465+1-55+1-97 prsthah bhavanti | asasti yadete bhaga idam puranamadhikrtya sodhadhyayanopayogino bhavisyantiti | vamana puranagranthatrayasya prakasah uparinirdistam vamanapuranasya magatrayam vidhipurvakam prakasamanitam | etadarthameko bhavyamahotsavah 13 aktubara 1968 divase varanasyam sarvabharatiya- kasirajanyasasya sivalakendre ayojita asit | sabhayah adhyaksapadama khila- bharatiya pracyavidyasammelanasya pradhanasacivaih da0 ara . ena . dandekaramahodayai- ralankrtam asit | anye ca ye sabhayamupasthita asan tesu kasinaresah srimaharaja da0 vibhutinarayanasimhamahodayah (sarvabharatiya kasirajanyasasyadhyaksah ) da . e. ena . upadhyemahodayah (akhilabharatiyapracyavidya samiteradhyaksah ), srimaharaja- kumarah da0 raghubira simhamahodayah, sri pam0 giradharilala mehatamahodayah, sri raghunathasimhamahodayah ( kasirajanyasasya sadasyah ), da0 e .di . pusalakaramahodayah (punayah bhandarakara pracyasodhasamsthanasya kyuretara mahodayah ), acaryasrihajariprasada- dvivedimahodayah (kasi hindu visvavidyalayasyaraiktara mahodayah ), sri pam0 rajesvarasastri dravidah (varanasistha sangaveda vidyalayadhyaksah ), sriramakrsnadasamahodayah ( kalabhavana sancalakah ka . hi . vi . vi .) pro0 rajaramasastri ( upakulapatih kasividyapithasya ) | anye'pi varanasinagarasya visistamahanubhavah, sri syamamohana agravalah ( varanasinagaramahapalikayah mahapaurah ) sri satyendra-

176 puranam -- PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 (Editor of the Hindi Daily Aj.) attended the function. A large number of the delegates to the Varanasi Session of the AllIndia Oriental Conference also were present. The function started with the singing of the slokas of the Vamana stuti from the Vamana Purana, after which Maharajkumar Dr. Rughubir Singh in his speech welcomed the president Dr. Dandekar and other learned guests. Dr. Dandekar in his speech greatly appreciated the three published Volumes of the Vamana Purana and thanked the Kashiraj Trust for its Valuable undertaking. His Highness in his speech traced the circumstances which led to the undertaking of the Purana work by the Kashiraj Trust some 14 years ago and referred to a meeting between himself and Dr. Dandekar at that time when he (Dr. Dandekar) had also advised for taking up the Purana work by the Kashiraj Trust. His Highness also expressed his apprecia tion of the hard labour which the staff of the Purana Department of the Kashiraj Trust had put in for bringing out these three Volumes in time. His Highness then presented the copies of these Volumes to Dr. Dandekar. Copies of the three Volumes were also presented to the Editor, Shri and to Dr. Ganga Sagar Rai who was and the proof-reading. In the end Shri Giridharilal Mehta thanked His Highness for taking so much interest in the Puranas and for steering the work of the Vamana Purana to successful and timely conclusion. He also thanked Dr. R. N. Dandekar for presiding the function in spite of his being so busy in the work of the Conference. The audience was also thanked for their participation and co-operation. Ananda Swarup Gupta, in-charge of the printing Resolution by the All-India Oriental Conference: The All India Oriental Conference in its Varanasi Session has passed the following resolution on the publication of the Critical Edition of the Vamana Purana and the Translation Volumes by the All India Kashiraj Trust: "The All India Oriental Conference, meeting in its twentyfourth Session at Varanasi, conveys to the Kashiraj Trust its felicitations on the recent publica-

agravala rediyo Shri Giridharilal Mehta, Trustee, All-India Kashiraj Trust, thanking the guests.

H. H. Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh speaking at the function he'd in connection with the release of the Vamana Purana Volumes by Dr. R. N. Dandekar (Sitting Third from Left)

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 177 kumara guptah ( 'aja ' dainika samacarapatrasya sampadakah ) ityadayah ullekhaniyah | tatha akhilabharatiyapracyavidyasamiteh varanasi adhivesane agatah bahavah pratinidhayo'si upasthita asan | mahotsavasya samarambhah vamanapuranasya vamanastuteh slokanam sumadhuroccaranena abhut | tadanantaram da0 raghubirasimhamahanubhavena sviyabhasane adhyaksamahasayanamanyesamatithibhutanam vidusam ca svagatam krtam | , da0 dandekara mahodayaih svabhasane vamanapuranasya prakasitam bhagatrayam bahusah prasamsitam kasirajanyasasyopayogine karyaya dhanyavadasca vyahrtah | tatra bhavadbhih kasinaresamahabhagaisca sviye bhasane caturdasavarsapurvam kasirajanyasadvara puranakaryasyarambhaya ye prerakah hetavah asan tesam vivaranam dattam tatha ca da0 dandekara mahodayena saha tasmin kale tasya vartaya api vivaranam dattam yada tenasi (dandekaramahodayenapi ) nyasadvara puranasambandhikaryam kartum samarthitam asit, tatra bhavadbhih kasinaresaih nyasasya puranavibhagastha karyakartrbhih vamanapuranasya bhagatrayasya niyatasamaye prakasanartham krtasya kathina parisramasyapyasamsa krta | tatra bhavadbhih kasinaresaih bhagatrayam da0 dandekaramahodayaya samarpitam | idam bhagatrayam sampadakaya srianandasvarupagupta mahodayaya prakasanapruphasamsodhanadikarmanam bharavahine da0 gamgasagararayamahodayaya ca tatrabhavadbhih maharajaih samarpitam | samaptau srigiridhari- lalamehatamahodayah tatrabhavate kasinaresaya puranakarye rucipradarsanaya tatha vamanapuranasya samaye prakasanartham preranayai dhanyavadan dattavan | da0 dandekara- mahodayayapi tena adhivesanakarmani vyasto'pi bhutva utsavasyadhyaksata svikrteti hetoh dhanyavadah pradattah | akhilabharatiyapracyavidya samitya paritah prastavah vamanapuranasya pathasamiksatmakasamskaranasya tasyanuvadayosca prakasanamadhikrtya prakasanopari akhilabharatiyapracyavidya samityah sviye varanasi- sammelane adhonirdistah prastavah paritah varanasyam pravarttitam akhilabharatiyapracyavidyasammelanasya caturvimsati- tamamadhivesana kasirajanyasena prakasitasya vamana puranasya samiksita samskaranasya

178 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 tion of the Critical Edition of the Vaman Purana. The Conference wishes to record its high appreciation for the competent manner in which the Editor, Shri Anand Swarup Gupta, has tackled the various textcritical problems which his work involved. Further it notes with satisfaction that the Critical Edition of the Vamana Purana is brought out with Hindi and English translation in separate Volumes. Al-together this Edition augurs well for the Critical Editions of other Puranas, which are under active preparation under the auspicious of the Trust. The Conference is glad that the Government of India and Uttar Pradesh have been rendering financial help to the Trust for the important research project, and hope that the project will not have to languish for want of adequate funds." The authorities of the Kashiraj Trust are grateful to the A. I. O. C. and specially to Dr. Dandekar for this encouraging and appreciative resolution, and hope that the Conference in future also will continue to co-operate in this useful Puranic undertaking of the Trust. Kurma-Purana-Work. Now that the Vamana Purana work has been completed, we have taken up the work of the Kurma-Purana edition and translation. For the critical edition we have collated the following manuscripts of the Kurma Purana up till now: 1. No. 41 of 1881-1882 from the B. O. R. I., Poona. Devanagari Dated Samvat 1615 (A. D. 1558). 2. No. 5589 from the V. V. R. I. Hoshiarpur. Devanagari Dated Samvat 1679 (A. D. 1622). 3. E. 3346 from the India office, London, Devanagari. 4. PM. 2418, I & II (two volumes) from the Adyar Library, Madras. Devanagari.

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 179 abhinandanam karoti | idam sammelanam vamanapuranasya sampadakaya srianandasvarupa- guptaya api suyogyaritya patha - samiksasambandhisamasyanam samadhanartham bhuriso dhanyavadan vitarati | agre samtosasya visayo yat patha-samiksatmaka samskaranati- riktam hindi - angalabhasanuvadabhyam saha prthak pranthayorapi prakasanam jatam | idam samskaranam nyasantargata sampadyamananam anyapurananam pathasamiksasamskarananam prakasane prerakam bhavisyati | sammelanam prasannatamanubhavati yad uttarapradesiyasasanena bharatasasanena ca nyasaya arthika sahayyam pradiyate asaste ca arthakrcchrena hetuna karyam kadapi navaruddho bhavisyatiti | kasirajanyasasyadhikarinah akhilabharatiyapracyavidyasammelanam visesatah da0 dandekaramahodayam prati asya utsahavardhakasya prasamsatmakasya ca prastavasya paranaya dhanyavadam dadati, asaste ca yad bhavisye api sammelanam nyasasyasmin upayogi puranakarmani sahayogam dasyatiti | kurmapuranakaryam samprati vamanapuranakaryanam samaptau kurmapuranasya sampadanamanuvadakaryam ca samarabdham | adyavadhi kurmapuranasyadho nirdista hastalekhah samvaditah - punyapattanasthabhandarakara - 1 . sam . 41 ऑpha 1881-1882 | pracyavidyasodhasamsthanatah devanagarihastalekhah | kalah samvat 1615 ( 1558 i0 ) 2. sam . 5589 | hosiyarapurasthat visvesvarananda vaidikasodha samsthanat devanagarilekhah | kalah samvat 1679 ( i0 1622 ) | 3 . i. 3346 | landananagarastha indiya aphisa ityatah devanagari- hastalekhah | 4 . adyara laibreri madrasatah pi-ema . 2418 ( bhagadvayatmakam ) devanagarihastalekhah |

180 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 The Following manuscripts are being collated: 1. No. 2845 (Mycrofilm copy) from the Dacca Universitys Bengali script. 2. No. 398 from the Asiatic society, Calcutta, Bengali Script. 3. A Palm-leaf MS. from the Sringeri Math, Mysore (South India). Nandi Nagari script. 4. A Palm-leaf Granth MS. Purchased from Madras. We have also the following MSS of the Kurma Purana with us, which have not yet been collated :- 1. MS. No. 3390 (Microfilm) from the Dacca University, Bengali script. We are preparing here a photo-stat copy from this microfilm. 2. A photo-stat copy of the MS. No. 1039 of the Harvard University Library. Devanagari. 3. MS. No. E. 3345 from the India Offiee, London, Devanagari. Dated Samvat 1856 (A. 1799). The lists of the geographical and personal Names from the Kurma Purana are also being prepared. 'Purana' Bulletin Index to the articles published in the last five Volumes (VI-X) is also being published as the supplement of Vol. X. 2. The articles and the topics of these Volumes have been arranged on the model of the Index to the first five Volumes (1-V) which was published as the supplement to Vol. V. 2. It also includes the author-Index arranged alphabetically. We intend to publish the next July issue (Vol. XI, No. 2) as the 'Vamana-Purana Number'. It will mostly contain the studies on the Vamana-Purana and the Vamana Avatara. The critical notes on the constituted text of the Vamana-Purana will also be published in this July issue. Thus this issue will be a kind of supplement to the already published critical edition of the Vamana-Purana.

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 181 aghonirdistanam caturnam hastalekhanam pathasamvadah kriyamano vartate- 1 . dhakavisvavidyalayasya 2845 samkhyakah bamgalipihastalekhah ( maikrophilmapratih ) | 2 . esiyatika sosaiti, kalakatta, ityasya samkhya 398, bamgalipi- hastalekhah | 3 . srnga rimatha, maisuratah tadapatrahastalekhah ; nandinagarilisih | madrasanagarat kritah granthalipyam tadapatrahastalekhah | 4 . adhonirdista adyavadhi asamvaditah hastalekhah api vartante'tram | 1 . dhaka visvavidyalayatah praptah 3390 samkhyakah bamgalipi hastalekhah ( maikrophilmapratih ) | vayamasya hastalekhasya atra photostaita pratim kartum prayatamahe | 2 . haravarda yunivarsiti pustakalayatah praptah 1039 samkhyakah hasta- lekhah | photostaitapratih | devanagarilipih | indiya aphisa landanatah praptah i0 3345 samkhyakah devanagari- hastalekhah | tithyankitah samvat 1856 ( i0 1799 ) | 4 . adyara laibreri madrasatah praptah udiya lipyam 75 /39 samkhyakah hastalekhah | kurmapuranasya pathasamvadatiriktam bhaugolikasthanasuci, vyaktinamasuci, pasupaksyadisuci capi nirmiyante | 'puranam ' patrika gatapancavarsesu prakasitanam lekhanam suci api dasamabhagasya dvitiyankasya parisistarupena prakasyamana vartate | esa suci pancamabhagasya dvitiyankasya parisista- rupena prakasitayah sucyah saranimanusarati | asyamaksarakramena samkalita lekhakasuci api vartate | agami- julai ankam (XI. 2 ) vayam vamanapuranankarupena prakasayitu- micchamah | asminnanka े visesatah vamanapuranasambandhinah vamanavatarasambandhinasca lekhah vamanapuranapathasambandhinyah samiksatmaka tippanyo'pi prakasitah bhaveyuh | itthamidamanka ' vamanapuranasya pathasamiksatmakasamskaranasya parisistam bhavisyati | 24

182 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XI., No 1 Help given by the Purana Deptt. to Research Scholars Research scholars occasionally seek help from the Purana Department of the Kashiraj Trust for supplying them necessary data and bibliography for their Puranic dissertations. The following research scholars may be noted in this connection:- (1) Srimati Usha Satyavrata, M. A., Ph. D., Lecturer n Sanskrit, Delhi University, who had been working on the Matsya-Purana for her D. Litt. Degree, changed her subject as the study of the Vamana Purana, when the critical edition of the Vamana Purana was brought out by the Kashiraj Trust. She is a U. G. C. Senior Research fellow. She came to our Purana Department in last September and worked on a Kashmirian MS. (T. of our Critical Apparatus) of the Vamana Purana under the guidance of Shri Anand Swarup Gupta for more than a week. (2) Shri J. L. Sharma of the Birla Public School, Pilani (Rajasthan), who is carrying on his research on Srimadbhagavata under the supervision of Dr. S. K. Gupta, Reader of the Sanskrit Department, Rajasthan University, Jaipur, has requested Shri Anand Swarup Gupta, under the instructions of his supervisor, to supply him information about the books and matter worth-knowing. The required information has been supplied to him. (3) Shri Cornella Church, Bethesda, Maryland, U. S. A., wrote to Dr. V. Raghavan, Prof. of Sanskrit, Madras University, for suggestions on bibliographic material for a dissertation on the subject of the story of the Yugas, or four Cosmic Ages, as found in the Puranas. Dr. Raghavan has forwarded this letter to the Purana Department here for sending the required suggestions, which have been directly sent to the above-mentioned scholar in U.S. A. from the Purana Department. (4) Shri Mata Prasad Tripathi, Research scholar, Gorakhpur University, working on the historical aspect of the Sakta-cult has requested in his letter of 22. 11. 68 to supply him the reprint of Shri Anand Swarup Gupta's

Jan, 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 183 sodhacchatrebhyah puranavibhagadvara krtam sahayyam samaye samaye sodhacchatrah puranavisayaka sodhagranthalekhanaya kasirajanyasasya puranavibhagat granthasuci, tathyadivisaye prasnan prcchanti vivaranam ca yacante | asminsamdarbhe adhonirdistah chatra ullekharhah- ( 1 ) srimati usa satyatrata, ema . e. pi . eca . di ., dilli visvavidyalayasya samskrtavibhage adhyapika | esa mahanubhava matsyapuranamadhikrtya sodhakaryam kurvati asit | kintu nyasadvara vamanapuranasya pathasamiksatmakasamskaranasya prakasananantaram sa purva-visayam tyaktva vamanapuranasya visayam svikrtavati | sa visvavidyalaya anudana ayogasya varistha sodhachatra'sti | gatasitambaramase sa puranavibhage agata asit saptaham yavat srianandasvarupaguptasya nirdesane kasmirihastalekha ( pathasamiksita samskaranasya 'kara ' hastalekha ) visaye karyam krtavati | (2) biralapablikaskula pilani, ityatrasthah sri je . ela . sarma- mahodayah rajasthanavisvavidyalayasya samskrtadhyapakasya da0 esa . ke . gupta- mahodayasya nirdesane srimadbhagavatavisayamadhikrtya karyam karoti | sah upayogi- granthanam vivaranartham yacitavan | avasyaki samagri tasmai presita | ( 3 ) bethesda, merilainda, yu . esa . e. ityasthah srikarnila carca mahodayah madrasavisvavidyalayasya samskrtavibhagadhyaksam da0 raghavan mahodayam pauranikayugavya- vasthavisayakasya sodhagranthanimittam granthasucipradanaya prarthitavan | raghavan mahodayah tasya patram puranavibhage presitavan, amerika desavastavyaya tasmai vivaranam presitam | da0 ( 4 ) gorakhapura visvavidyalaye srimataprasada tripathinamakah sodhachatrah saktasampradayasya aitihasika paksavisaye sodham karoti | sah sviye 22 .11 .68

184 puranam- PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 article on 'Conception of Sarasvati in the Puranas' published in 'Purana' Vol. IV, Part I (January, 1962) for the purpose. Purana Patha and Pravacana During the last week of the bright half of the month of Kartika, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 the complete text of the Garuda Purana was recited in the morning and the Pravacana on it was given in the evening by Pt. Visvanath Shastri Datar of the Sanga Veda Vidyalaya, Varanasi, in the Padmanabha temple of Ramnagar. Purana-Gosthi A Purana-Gosthi is arranged every year on the occasion of the Vyasa Purnima. On the occasion of the last Vyasa Purnima the Purana-Gosthi was arranged at the Shivala centre of the Trust, in the morning of the 9th July, 1968. It was presided by His Highness Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh, and was attended by a number of Professors and Scholars of the Varanaseya Sanskrit University and the Banaras Hindu University and also by some local Sanskrit Pandits of Varanasi. After the Mangala. carana a report of the work of the Purana Department for the year (i. e. since the last Purana-gosthi in July, 1967) was read and discussed. The Volume of the critical Edition of the Vamana Purana was, then, placed before the scholars present and they approved and appreciated it. A short discussion on the translation of the Vamana Purana, which was then in the Press, also followed. Dr. S. Bhattacharya, Head of the Sanskrit Department of the B. H. U., and Pt. Hariram Shukla, Professor of the Varanaseya Sanskrit University, took keen interest in the discussion. After the Gosthi the Prasada was distributed. Veda-Parayana In order to popularise the Vedic recitation H. H. Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh Ji organised the Parayana (i.e. recitation of the complete text) of the Veda. The Parayana of the Kanva Sakha of the Sukla-Yajurveda by memory was done during the bright half of the last month of Asadha by Pt. Ramchandra

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 185 dinankite patre srianandasvarupaguptasya Conception of Sarasvati namakasya lekhasya (VI.1 ) pratim yacitavan | tasmai mudranapratih presita | puranapathah pravacanam ca kartikamasasya suklapaksasyantime saptahe ( aktubara 30 - navambara 5 ) garudapuranasya purnah pathah padmanabha mandire jatah | asyopari sangavedavidyala- yiyaih srivisvanathasastridataramahodayaih pravacanam krtam | puranagosthi prativarsam vyasapurnimavasare puranagosthi ayojita bhavati | gatavyasapurni- mavasare 9 julai 1968 dinanke pratah kale nyasasya sivalakendre puranagosthi ayojita asit | asyah gosthya adhyaksata tatrabhavadbhih kasinaresaih da0 vibhutinarayanasimhamahodayaih krta | asyam gosthyam varanaseya samskrta visvavidya- layasya tatha hinduvisvavidyalayasya bahavah adhyapakah kecid sthaniyah vidvamsasca upasthita asan | mangalacarananantaram puranavibhagasya varsikam karyavivaranam ( gatapuranagosthitah arabhya vartamanapuranagosthim yavat ) pathitam vicaritam ca | tadanantaram vamanapuranasya prakasitam pathasamiksatmakam samskaranam vidusam puratah prastutam taih vivecitam prasamsitam ca | vamanapuranasyanuvadavisaye'pi vimarso natah yasmin hinduvisvavidyalayiyah da0 siddhesvarabhattacaryah, samskrtavisvavidyalayiyah srihariramasuklasca visesarucim darsitavantau | vedaparayanam vedapathasya pracarartham tatrabhavantah kasinaresah da0 vibhutinarayana simha- mahodayah vedanam parayanasyayojanam kurvanti | smrtyadharena suklayajurvedasya kanvasakhayah parayanam gatasadhamasasya suklapakse pam . ramacandrarajahamsamahodayena

186 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 Rajahamsa from 26 June to 10 July, 1968. On the successful conclusion of the Parayana the reciter was awarded a certificate of merit and the usual daksina by His Highness. Vedic Yajnas-Paurnamasa and Darsa The ancient institution of the Srauta-Yajnas which had played so prominent a part in the life of our ancient forefathers, has now almost fallen into oblivion, but it deserves to be revived and preserved, as it is the most important and the oldest institution of the ancient culture of India. Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh, who is a sincere devotee of the Vedic culture, deserves our congratulations for patronising the performance of the two important Srauta-Yajnas, viz. the Paurnamasa and the Darsa. The Paurnamasa Yaga was preformed in the morning of 10th December and the Darsa-isti was performed on the 19th and 20 Dec. in the morning (i. e. on the Amavasya and pratipada of the month of Pausa) in the Ramnagar Fort. Both the Yagas were performed stricly according to the Vedic sacrificial rules prescribed by the Latyayana and the Katyayan Srauta Sutras. The Yajna-vedi and the five kundas for the five fires (Ahavaniya, Garhapatya, Daksinagni, Sabhya, and the Avasathya) were prepared with accurate measurement as prescribed in the Sulba-sutras. A chart showing the exact position of the vedi and the five Agnis together with the detailed procedure containing 86 items was cyclostyled and the copies were supplied to the scholars present. The following acted as the yajamana and the priests of both these yagas :- Shri Diksita Risisankar Tripathi Somayajin with his wife, Pt. Visvanath Deva Ghanapathi. Yajamana Hot! Adhvaryu Pt. Sivaram Tripathi. Agnidh Pt. Dinakar Phadake. Sadasya Pt. Balakrshna Bhatta Vajapeyin. Brahma Pt. Harirama Trivedi

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 187. 26 junatah 10 julai 1968 yavat krtam | parayanasamaptau pathakartre prasamsapatram, daksina ca tatrabhavadbhih kasinaresaih pradatta | vaidika yajnah- paurnamaso darsasca sritayajnanam pracina paripati ya pracinakale asmakam purvajanam jivane prabhavasalini asit sa samprati luptapraya jata | kintu asyah punarujjivana- mavasyakam | yatastvesa pracina mahattvapurna samsthasit | vaidikasamskrteh posakah samarthakasca kasinaresah da0 vibhutinarayanasimhamahodayah dhanyavadarhah yaih dvau mahattvapurnau srotayajnau- paurnamasadarsi gata disambaramase karitau | paurnamasestih disambaramasasya 10 dinankasya pratahkale krta | darsestiscadi 19, 20 dinankayoh ( amavasya tithyam pradisadi ca ) sampanna | ubhau yajnau purnarupena savadhanataya ca latyayana- katyayanasrautasutrabhyam vihitaya paddhatya eva sampannau | sulbasutravihitamapanusaratah vedih, panca (ahavaniya garhapatya-daksina- sabhya avasathya ) agninam kundani ca nirmitani asan | vedyah pancagninam ca sthanasucakacitrena saha sadasiti visayasamvali- tasya vivaranasya saiklostailda pratih brahmacaribhyah darsakebhyasca pradatta asit | ubhayoryajnayoh aghonirdistah sajjanah yajamanah purohitascasan | yajamanah- sapatnikah somayaji sridiksitarsisamkara tripathi | hota- panditavisvanathadevah ghanapathi | adhvaryuh - pandita sivaramatripathi | agnidhah- panditadinakara phada़ke | sadasyah - pandita balakrsna bhattavajapeyi | brahma- pandita hariramatrivedi |

188 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 After some preliminary rites the sacrificial fire was produced by means of the friction of the two aranis (two pieces of the wood of a sami tree) and with the chanting of the Vedic mantras. On the occasion of the Darsa-Yaga six cows were milked in the evening of the 19th Dec. (Amavasya) and again in the early morning of the next day (pratipada) according to the Srauta-rites. Both the Yagas were performed under the supervision of Pt. Rajeshvar Sastri Dravida. His Highness Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh and the young Maharajakumar sat by the side of the Ahavaniya fire throughout the performance of the two Yagas. The Daksina was given to the yajamana and the priests in kind (corn). At the conclusion of the Darsa-Yaga the yajna-vibhuti was distributed to the audience. It was really an inspiring and ennobling sight to watch these two sacrifices being performed according to the ancient Vedic injunctions. Even the minutest details were correctly performed with recitation of the Vedic formulas indicating the mode and the importance of their performance. The performance of these two yagas also served as an education to the young Brahmacarins in the ancient Vedic yajna-vidya. His Highness intends to perform occasionally these and the other Srauta-yajnas not involving the animal-sacrifice, for preserving and propagating this important Vedic institution of the ancient Indian culture which is not merely of antiquarian interest but also of educational value to the present age. Vasanta-Puja and Sastrartha During the 9th birth day ceremony of the young MaharajKumar, Sri Anant Narain Singh, which was celebrated from 25 to 27 November 1968, the Vasanta-puja (i.e. the ceremonial recitation of the Vedas by the boys under 14 years of age on a birthday ceremony) and a Sastrartha on the Nyaya was arranged by His Highness on the 27th November, in which the Maharajakumar and the other Brahmacarins (students of the Vidya-mandir Pathasala of the Maharaja Banaras Vidya-mandir Trust) took-part. Both the function were held under the supervision of Pt. Rajeshwar Shastri Dravid and Pandit Hari Ram Shukla of the Varanaseya Sanskrit University. After the two functions the prizes were given to the Brahmacarins and the prasada was also distributed to the audience.

001 Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 189 prarambhikakrtyanantaram vaidikamantroccaranaih saha aranimanthanad agninananam krtam | darsayagavasare 19 disambara dinankasya sayamkale tatha 20 disambara- dinankasya pratahkale srautakriyanusaram sannam gavam dohanam krtam | ubhau yajnau srirajesvarasastri dravida mahodayasya nirdesane krtau | yajnavasare tatrabhavan kasinaresah da0 vibhutinarayanasimhamahodayah maharajakumarasca ahavaniyagneh parsve upasthitau astam | yajnasamaptau yajamanebhyah purohitebhyasca annasya daksina datta | darsayagasya samaptyavasare darsakebhyah yajnavibhutih vitarita | vastutah pracina vaidikaritya kriyamananam yaganam darsanam darsakebhyo anandakaram camatkrtikaram casit | ativasuksma'pi kriya vaidikaritya mantroccaranaih krta asit | ayam yagah brahmacarisisubhyah pracinayajnavidyayah siksanarupa asit | tatra bhavan kasinaresah pasuhimsavihinan pracinan vaidikayajnan samaye-samaye kartukamo vartate yena tesam pracaro bhavet | vasantapuja sastrartham ca maharajakumarasya sri anantanarayanasimhasya navambara 25-27 dinankesu sampanne navamajanmadivasotsavavasare vasantapuja (arthat janmadine unacaturdasavarsiyaih balakaih vedapathah ) tatha nyayavisaye sastrartham ca 27 navambara dinanke tatra bhavadbhih kasinaresairayojite astam | asmin karye maharajakumarah tatha maharaja banarasavidyamandiranyasena pracalitayah vidyamandirapathasalaya anye brahmacarinasca samlagna asan | ume karye pam0 rajesvarasastridravida mahodayasya | utsava samaptau | tatha pam . hariramasuklamahodayasya nirdesane sampanne nate | brahmacaribhyah puraskaram srotrbhyah prasadam ca vitaritam | 25

190 puranam - PURANA Varanasi Session of A. I.O.C. 231:55 of [Vol. XI., No. 1 The twenty-fourth session of the All-India Oriental Conference was held at Varanasi in the Varanaseya Sanskrit University on Oct. 12-14, 1968. His Highness Maharaja, Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh was the chairman of the reception commitee. In his address at the Plenary Session of the Conference the President, Acharya Visvabandhu (who could not attend the Session in person and so his address was read by Prof. Jagannath Agrawala) referred to the Purana work of the All India Kashiraj Trust in an appreciative tone. In its concluding session the conference passed a resolution on the publication of the Critical Edition and the two translation Volumes of the Vamana Purana, which has already been noted above. 78 font The Chairman of the All-India Kashiraj Trust, Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh, gave a tea-party to the delegates of the Conference in the evening of the 12th October on the lawn of the Sanskrit University. Dr. Aditya Nath Jha, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, who inaugurated the session, was presented by H. H. a copy of the Critical Edition of the Vamana Purana on this occasion. Shri Ananda Swarup Gupta and Dr. Ganga Sagar Rai read their papers on 'Textual Problems of the Vamana Purana', and the 'Evolution of the Vamana-Legend' respectively in the classical section of the Conference. On the advice of Dr. R. N. Dandekar the classical section also passed an appreciative resolution on the publication of the thre of the three Volumes of the Vamana Purana by the Kashiraj Trust. On behalf of the Purana Department of the Kashiraj Trust Shri Anand Swarup Gupta placed the following resolution in the Council of the Conference on the 13th October, which was seconded by Dr. P. N. Pushp, Director of Archives and Libraries, Kashmir, and was passed unanimously - "Indian Institutions and Manuscript-Libraries are requested to give to the Public Institutions which are well established and recognised by the Government of India, facilities to directly

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 191 akhilabharatiyapracyavidya sammelanasya varanasi -adhivesanam akhilabharatiya pracyavidyasammelanasya caturvimsatitamam adhivesanam varanaseya- samskrta visvavidyalaye 1968 khristiyabdasya aktubara 12-14 dinankesu sampannam | tatra bhavantah kasinaresah da0 vibhutinarayana simhamahodayah svagatasamiteh adhyaksa asan | sammelanasya prarambhikadhivesane adhyaksah da0 visvabandhuh ( yasyanupasthitau srijagannatha agravalah tasya bhasanamapathat ) sviye bhasane kasirajanyasiya puranakaryasya prasamsapurvaka mullekha makarot | adhivesanasya samaptyavasare sammelanam vamanapuranasya pathasamiksita samskaranasya anuvada-samskarana- yosca visaye prastava paritavan yasya nirdesah prakkrto vartate | 12 aktubara dinankasya sayamkale samskrtavisvavidyalasya prangane sarva- bharatiya kasirajanyasasyadhyaksaistatrabhavadbhih kasinaresaih da0 vibhutinarayanasimha- mahodayaih sammelanasya pratinidhibhyah upaharo dattah | tatrabhavadbhih kasina resaih sammelanasyodghatana kartrne dillipradesasyoparajyapalaya da0 adityanathajha- mahodayaya vamanapuranasyaika pratih samarpita | | of the Vanana Purana visayamadhikrtya sri ord sammelanasya 'klasikala varge srianandasvarupaguptah Textual Problems da0 gamgasagararayasva Evolution of the Vamana Legend visayamadhikrtya nibandhama- pathat | da0 dandekaramahodayasya nirdesatah sammelanasya 'klasikala vargo'pi ' nyasena vamanapuranasya prakasanavisaye ekam prasamsaparakam prastava paritavan | kasirajanyasasya puranavibhagatah srianandasvarupaguptamahodayena sammelanasya karyasamitau adhonirdistah prastavo prastavitah | esa prastavah kasmira- puratattvasya- pustakalayanam ca nirdesakena da0 pi . ena . puspamahodayena samarthitah sarvasammatya paritasca "bharatiya samstha hastalekha pustakalayasca idam prarthyante yatte bharata- rajyena svikrtebhyah tatha pratisthebhyah sarvajaninasamsthabhyasca ucitam bandhapatram prapya

192 puranam -- PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 borrow manuscripts from them, except the rare ones, on furnishing adequate security and on duly executing the indemnity bond. In case of rare manuscripts microfilms or photo-stat copies as desired by the borrowers, be supplied to them at their cost. If the lending institutions or libraries do not possess necessary facilities for making microfilm and photo-stat copies, they should have it done by the National Archives or such allied Government Institutions at the cost of the borrower". Two Sanskrit Dramas Staged Staging of Sanskrit dramas is a very good means of making the Sanskrit language popular among the masses besides giving them a healthy entertainment. It also displays the salient features of the Indian culture. With this point in view His Highness Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh arranged through the Maharaja Banaras Vidya Mandir Trust the staging of the two Sanskrit dramas, Saint Tulasidasa and Mirabai, composed by Srimati Dr. Rama Rao of the Pracya Vani Institution of Calcutta. The two dramas were successfully staged under the guidance of the authoress Srimati Rao by her party on the 15th and 16th October respectively in the Ramnagar Fort. Besides Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh Ji, Pt. Rajeshwar Shastri Dravida and other local scholars and distinguished persons witnessed the two plays and appreciated them. A dinner was given to Srimati Rao and her party on both the days. Ramalila The famous Rama lila organised every year at Ramnagar in Sept-Oct. by His Highness Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh Ji has & great religious and cultural importance and is visited by a large number of people. It lasts for a full month. This year the Ramalila was organised from Sept. 5 to Oct. 5. Apart from the huge congregation the following distinguished persons also visited the fair:- 1. Shri Balwant Garagi of the Punjab University, the wellkhown authority on folk-theatre visited the Ramalila and stayed here in the Nadesar House of His Highness. He is writing a book on the Ramnagar-Ramalila.

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 193 durlabhahastalekhan vidyayanyan hastalekhan dadantu | durlabhahastalekhanam maikrophilmapratih photosteta pratih va grahitanam vyayena nirmaya dadantu | yadi tesam sakasam maikophilmaprateh photo staita prateh va sadhanam na bhavet tarhi te grahitrnam vyayena 'rastriya arkiva ' athava etadrsaya sasana- samsthaya nirmapayitva dadantu | E dvayoh samskrtanatakayorabhinayah samskrtanatakanamabhinayah darsakanam manastosatiriktam samskrtabhasayah prava- rasya sadhanamapyasti | ayam bharatiyasamskrteh pramukhangasyapi khyapako'sti | etad drstya maharajakasinaresah maharajabanarasa vidyamandiranyasadvara kalakatta- nivasinya da0 ramacaudhurimahodayaya tulasidasa-mirabai visayakayoh nirmitayoh dvayoh natakayorabhinayasya prabandham karayamasuh | lekhikayah nirdesane dvayornatakayo- rabhinayah 15, 16 aktubara dinankayoh ramanagaradurge abhut | kasinaresah, pam0 rajesvarasastri dravidamahodayah, anye vidvamsah adhikarinasca natakayora- bhinayam drstavantah | natakakartanam nirdesikayasca sammane ubhayordinayoh sayam bhojanam dattam | ramalila tatra bhavadbhih kasinaresaih da0 vibhutinarayanasimhamahodayaih ramanagare prativarsa sitambara-aktubaramase ayojita prasiddha ramalila dharmika-samskrtikadrstya mahattvapurna varttate | asmin varse 5 sitambara dinamkatah arabhya 5 aktubara- dinankam yavat ramalila ayojita asit | brhajjanasammarddhatiriktamaghonirdista visistah purusa ramalila darsanarthamagata asan - 1. sribalavantagaragimahodayah panjaba visvavidyalayasya- lokanrtyavisaye adhikari vidvan vartate | ayam mahanubhavah kasinaresasya nandesvarabhavane atithirabhavat | ayam mahanubhavah ramanagarasya ramalilavisaye grantharacanam karttum mihate |

1'94 puranam - PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 2. Mrs. Chester Bowles, wife of the U.S. A. Ambassador in India, Mr. Chester Bowles, came to see the Ramalila with her friends from the Ambassy and stayed at the Nadesar House. 3. The V. C. of the Varanaseya Sanskrit University, Dr. Gauri Nath Shastri, came to see the Ramalila with his family and friends on the Bharata-milapa day (Oct. 3). 4. The V.C. of the Calcutta University also visited the Ramalila on the same day. 5. Brigadier Rizvi of the Lucknow Command visited the Ramalila on the Bharata-milapa day and was greatly impressed. Sastyabda-Purti of Dr. V. Raghavan The Sastyabda purti or the 61st birthday of Dr. V. Raghavan, Professor and Head of the Sanskrit Department of the Madras University and an eminent Sanskrit scholar of international fame, who is also a member of our Purana-Committee, was celebrated in Madras with proper sastric rites on the 21st and 22nd August, 1968. A public function was arranged on the 22nd August to felicitate Dr. Raghavan on this occasion. The function was presided by Dr. C. D. Deshmukh. Messages were received from various quarters of India and abroad. The All-India Kashiraj Trust also sent a message of felicitation in Sanskrit and Rs. 101/as its contribution. We again congratulate him for completing his 60th year and pray God to grant him a long and happy life to serve the cause of Sanskrit learning. Scholars who visited the Puvana-Depaatment The following scholars visited our Purana-Department during the period under review :- 1. Mahamahopadhyaya Svami Gangesvaranand Ji, Vedamandir, Ahmedabad.-16.10.68. 2. Dr. L. Sternbach, U.N., New York.-9.11.68, 3. Prof. Dr. Surya Kanta, Head of Sanskrit Department, Kuruksetra University.-23.11.68. 4. Dr. B. N. Sharma, National Museum, New Delhi.- 24.11.68.

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 195 2. amerikadesasya rajadutasya cestara baulsa mahodayasya dharmapatni svamitraih saha ramaliladarsanarthamagata kasinaresasya nandesvarabhavane sthita casit | 3 . varanaseya samskrtavisvavidyalayasyopakulapatih da0 gaurinathasastri- mahodayah parivarasadasyaih svamitraisca saha bharatamilapadine ( 3 aktubara- dinanke ) ramalilam drstavan | 4 . kalakattavisvavidyalayasya upakulapatimahodayo'pi tasminneva dine ramalilam drstavan | 5 . brigediyara rijavimahodayo'pi bharatamilapadine ramalilam drstra prabhavito jatah | da0 ve . raghavan mahodayasya sastyabdapurtih visvavisrutasamskrtavidusah madrasa samskrtavisvavidyalayasya samskrtavibhagadhya- ksasya asmat puranasamitisadasyasya da0 ve0 raghavan mahodayasya sastyabdapu- tyutsavah 1968 khristabdasyagastamasasya 21, 22 dinankayoh sastriyapaddhatya sampannah | asminnavasare da0 raghavanmahodayasyabhinandanam karttum ekah sarvajanikah utsava ayojita asit | utsavasyadhyaksata da0 cintamanidvarakanatha desamukha- mahodayena krta | desavidesebhyah subhasamsanasamdesa agata asan | asminnavasare kasirajanyasenapi samskrtabhasayam subhasamsa 101 mudra ca presita | vayam tasya sastipurti tasmai dhanyavadan presayamah bhagavantam yacamahe yat tasmai dirgha sukhamayam ca ayusyam vitanotu yenayam mahabhagah samskrtasevam kuryat | puranavibhagam drastumagata vidvamsah asmin karyavadhau aghonirdista vidvamsah puranavibhage agata asan - 1 . mahamahopadhyayah svami gangesvaranandah, ahamadavadiya vedamandiradhyaksah 16|10|68 dinanke | 2 . da0 ludavika starnabakha mahodayah 9|11|68 dinanke | 3 . kuruksetra visvavidyalayasya samskrtavibhagadhyaksah pro . da0 suryakanta- mahodayah 23|11|68 dinanke | 4 . da0 bi0 ena . sarmamahodayah, nesanala myujiyama, dilli 24|11|68 dinanke |

196 Tur puranam - PURANA [Vol. XI., No. 1 Distinguished Guests of His Highness The following dignitories were the guests of His Highness Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narain Singh at his Nadesar House during their visit to Varanasi : 1. Shri Morarji Desai, Deputy Prime Minister of India. (6.7.68). 2. Shri Jagjivan Ram, Food Minister, Government of India. (21.7.68 and 29.9.68). 3. Justice Shashi Kant Varma of Allahabad High Court. (1.9.68). 4. Shri Satyendra Narain Sinha, Patna. (2.10.68). 5. Mrs. Chester Bowles, American Embassy, New Delhi. 6. Maharajkumar Dr. Raghubir Singh. (10.10 68) 7. Dr. R. K. Sharma, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. (12.10.68) 8. Shri Raj Gopalan, Judicial Member Income-tax Tribunal, Patna. (24.11.68) 9. Smt. Sushila Nayar. (26.12.68) 10. Smt. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India. (26.12.68)

Jan., 1969] ACTIVITIES OF THE ALL-INDIA KASHIRAJ TRUST 197 visista atithayah adho nirdistah sajjanah sviyakasiyatrayam tatrabhavatam da . vibhutinarayana- simhamahodayanam nandesvarabhavane atithayah asan - 1 . bharatasyopapradhanamantri srimoraraji desaimahodayah 6 .7.68 dinanke | 2 . bharatasya khadyamantri srijagajivanaramamahodayah 21 .7.68, 29 .9.68 dinankayoh | 3 . prayaga- uccanyayalayasya 1 .9.68 dinanke | 4 . dinanke | 5 . nyayadhisah srisasikantavarmamahodayah patananagara vastavyah srisatyendranarayanasimhamahodayah 2 .10 .68 bharatasya ameriki dutavasatah srimati cestarabolsamahodaya | da . ramakaranasarmamahodayah 6 . maharajakumara da . raghubirasimhamahodayah 10 .10 .68 dinanke | 7 . bharatasya 12 .10 .68 dinanke | 8 . siksamantralayadhikari srirajagopalanamahodayah | 9 . srimati susila nayaramahodaya 26 .12 .68 dinanke | 10 . bharatadesasya pradhanamantri srimati indira gandhimahodaya 26 .12 .68 dinanke | 26